Furniture assembly and assembly device

ABSTRACT

An article combined with other parts which assemble into an item of furniture, the article constituting a spacer of extruded aluminum having a cylindrical bore therethrough and, as seen in cross-section, grooves outboard of such bore which are right angles to each other. Bores of aligned spacers receive posts and outboard legs therein define grooves which receive vertical panels with horizontal members between spacers, such horizontal members having openings which are aligned with the bores to receive vertical pipe. The vertical pipe thereby aligns the spacers, horizontal members and indirectly the vertical members. In one embodiment, L-shaped portions formed in the extruded spaces opposite the legs define further grooves which permit the use of connecting clips between adjacent shelves. Additional spacers having further grooves to provide midway and central aligned supports for larger shelves are also disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an assembly device for assembling elementswhich will constitute shelving and other furniture as well as to theassemblies obtained by using such devices.

Various types of knock-down furniture which can be shipped compactly ina disassembled state to be assembled at a subsequent location have longbeen known.

Much furniture is a combination of post or rods and flat, coplanarcomponents such as shelving. In prior art furniture of the typeinvolved, the rods or posts are generally grooved and receive furtherspecially adapted parts connected to the flat components for securingsame in place. Examples of such types of knock-down furniture may befound in the following U.S. Pat. Nos.: 3,181,923 of May 4, 1965 toGuillon et al; 3,250,584 of May 10, 1966 to Tassell; 3,259,079 of July5, 1966 to Freeman; 3,525,560 of Aug. 25, 1970 to Gasner et al;3,661,434 of May 9, 1972 to Alster; 3,747,965 of July 24, 1973 to wing;3,734,032 to Gay 22, 1973 to Kovalik, 3,747,885 of July 24, 1973 toCiancimino; 3,896,743 of July 29, 1975 to Pariente; 3,898,939 of Aug.12, 1975 to Grachten; 4,021,128 of May 3, 1977 to Chiames; and 4,094,417of June 13, 1978 to Cairnes et al.

Furniture designs utilizing systems of the above-identified patents arediverse and comprehensive. However, in each instant the user isgenerally limited to assembling the specific furniture. Modifications,adaptations and repair at the site wherein the furniture is assembled,if desired, usually require the use of special tools and skills or areotherwise time-consuming.

It is also known in the construction of knock-down furniture to usepoles or posts with surrounding spacers to assemble shelving. An exampleof this type of construction may be found in the display rack ofElliott, U.S. Pat. No. 1,401,057, issued Dec. 20, 1921. With suchconstruction, the dimensions of the shelving and the spacing betweenshelves can be easily modified, repaired or replaced at the site wherethe shelving is assembled. But, although such system is adaptable forvarious types of shelving, it is much less so to produce other furniturewherein the coplanar components are other than horizontal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a spacer for supporting a horizontalplatform or other horizontal component comprising an aluminum extrusionwhich defines in its cross-section a circular opening to receive ahollow post or pipe having a one inch overall diameter and two grooves,disposed at right angles to each other located outboard of the circle,for receiving vertical panels. The extrusion is cut into a plurality ofspacers of desired length whereby a vertical post through several suchspacers divided by a plurality of horizontal platforms having alignedopenings receive the vertical posts. The extrusions thus provide supportand spacing as desired for the horizontal platforms in a manner similarto that taught by Elliott, supra. However, in addition, the verticalgrooves position vertical panels which may provide additional supportfor the horizontal members.

Although the horizontal platforms, vertical panels, posts or pipes andthe extrusions may, if desired, be pre-cut and delivered for assemblyfor a specific item of furniture, the only component of the assemblywhich is not readily available in most areas from a lumberyard orhardware store is the extrusion. Thus, furniture constructed inaccordance with the invention can be repaired or modified by use of onlya saw and drill and without the need of a cabinet maker's skills.

The invention thus involves and provides durable, inexpensive furniturecapable of being shipped in a knocked-down condition which is suitablefor rapid assembly upon arrival at the location. The components of theinvention and particularly the spacer device permit the assembly ofelements for a broad range of structures which will constitute almostany type of furniture such as shelving, cupboards, bookcases, beds,chairs, armchairs, etc.

Other objects, adaptabilities and capabilities of the invention will beunderstood by those skilled in the art as the description progresses,reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical piece of furniture, a desk,assembled in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a shelf or bookcase assembled in accordancewith the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a spacer and pipe as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a pipe as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a spacer inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a clip which may be used with the spacerof FIG. 3 as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a midway spacer for shelves which may beused in the invention;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a shelf illustrating use of the midway spacershown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a central spacer for larger width shelveswhich may be used in the invention;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a shelf utilizing the central spacers shown inFIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a modified spacer similar to thespacers shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a further modified embodiment ofthe spacer of the invention;

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of a chair constructed in accordancewith the invention; and

FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of the chair shown in FIG. 13.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1 a desk, designated generally by reference numeral 18,comprises a horizontal member 15 which functions as of the top of thedesk and which may be one inch chip board, plywood, or other suitablematerial which is unlikely to warp. It will be noted from FIG. 1, member15 includes six (6) openings 16. Spaced below member 15 is a parallelfurther horizontal member 17 which also has openings (not seen) whichcorrespond in position and size with openings 16. Also parallel tomembers 15 and 17 is a further horizontal member 20 which has openings(not seen) which are aligned with the four openings 16 on the lefthandside of the desk 14 as seen in FIG. 1.

Each opening 16 and the corresponding openings in members 17 and 20 arevertically aligned and slidably receive a post or a pipe 21 which asshown has its upper edge flush with the top of member 15.

Between members 15 and 17 are six (6) identical spacers 22, each ofwhich has a longitudinal bore 24 which grasps the corresponding pipe 21.

As seen in FIG. 5, each bore 24 of the spacers is circular and has thesame diameter as each opening 16. Spaced outboard from bore 24, a pairof grooves 25 are disposed at right angles to each other. Each groove isdefined in part by an outer leg 26 and an inner leg 27 which alsodefines bore 24. A web 30 connects the legs and also defines, in part,bore 24. It will be noted web 30 together with legs 27 do not completelysurround bore 24 and leave a gap 31 which measures about 50° of arcrelative to the centerline of bore 24.

It will be understood pipes 21 extend from the level of the uppersurface of member 15 to the underlying floor. As previously indicated,between members 15 and 17 are six spacers 22 which grasp theircorresponding pipes 21. In a like manner, between members 17 and 20,four longer spacers 32 are provided which each grasp the correspondingpipes 21 and between member 20 and the floor are two forward spacers 42and two rear spacers 52 (only one shown) which support member 20 andgrasp the corresponding pipes 21. On the righthand side of the desk asseen in FIG. 1, two further spacers 32 (only one shown) are providedbetween member 17 and a side connection board 39. Finally, under board39 and a further rear connection board 38, respectively are additionalspacers 42 and 52 which grasp the righthand pipes 21, and, inconsequence, support the righthand side of the desk 18. Board 38 extendsacross the rear of the desk 18 and has openings near its edges alignedwith bores 24 in spacers 52.

Desk 18 is also provided with vertical side panels 35 and 36 which arereceived between members 15 and 17 and member 17 and board 39,respectively, and in grooves 25 of spacers 22 and 32, respectively. Backvertical panels, supported and held in a similar manner between the rearspacers 22 and 32 and members 15, 17 and 20 and board 38, are alsoprovided.

If desired, a plastic floor mat may be provided for desk 18 which hasopenings provided to receive the six pipes 21. Such mats are usuallyabout one quarter of an inch thick and, in such case, the lengths of thepipes should be longer by corresponding amounts.

It will be appreciated it is not necessary for pipes 16 to extendentirely through openings 16 of member 15.

Bores only say about one-half the distance through the thickness ofmember 15 may be provided to receive the upper end of each pipe 21.Nevertheless, support for members 15, 17 and 20 and boards 38 and 39will continue to be spacers 22, 32 and 42 rather than pipes 16 whichprimarily function to provide lateral stability of the spacers and tomaintain them in the correct alignment. The function of the spacers isto provide support for the generally horizontal members and to align thegenerally vertical panels and the like. If further structural bracing isdesired, this can be accomplished by drilling through legs 26 of thespacers and securing them to vertical panels such as vertical panels 36by appropriate fasteners such as wood or metal self-tapping screws.

The spacers 22, 32, 42 and 52 are all extruded aluminum, as is pipe 21,and have identical cross-sections. Round rods of wood or otherappropriate material can be substituted for pipes 21. Panels 35 and 36,the back panel and members 15, 17 and 20 may be easily fashioned fromplywood using a drill and saw as the only tools. Thus, if the spacersare available, the capability exists, at most locations, to construct adesk as shown in FIG. 1 using other building and construction materialswhich are usually readily obtainable. Moreover, once desk 18 has been sofashioned, it can be disassembled, transported and again assembled withfacility.

As will be seen in FIG. 1, desk 18 is provided with three drawers 37, 40and 41 which are provided with handles 44, 45 and 46 of any appropriatedesign which can be readily obtained at most hardware stores. Thespecific construction of the drawers 37, 40 and 41 will be understoodwith reference to the embodiments shown in FIG. 2.

A shelf of a bookcase 62 is shown in plan view in FIG. 2, wherein theshelf, per se, is designated by reference numeral 47. Such shelf 47 ispreferably chip-board which is four foot in length by one foot in widthby one inch in thickness and is provided with four circular openings 50which receive vertically disposed pipes 21.

Whereas spacers 22, 32, 42 and 52 are identical in cross-section, spacer54 as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, is somewhat distinctive in that it isprovided with a pair of clip recesses 55 which are defined by L-shapedextensions 56 which extend in directions opposite from outer legs 26.Otherwise bore 24, grooves 25, outer legs 26, inner legs 27 and webs 30are essentially the same, as seen in cross-section, in spacer 54 as inspacers 22, 32, 42, and 52.

In shelf 47 for bookcase 62, spacers 54 are disposed about pipes 21,such spacers 54 being of equal length. A diaphragm or a panel 57, havingexactly the same height as spacers 54 which receive it and otherwiseappropriate dimensions to be received slideably and snugly in grooves 25of the rearmost spacers 54, is provided. Similarily, side panels 60,which are received in grooves 25 of the right and left spacers 54, areprovided, such panels 60 each having identical dimensions with theirheight being the same as the height of spacers 54. Preferably panel 57constitutes one quarter inch thickness plywood which is 3'93/4" inlength by twelve inches in height and the side panels 60 are alsoone-fourth inch plywood which are 93/4" in length and also twelve inheight. It will be understood that each spacer 54 is also twelve inchesin height. Similar spacers (not shown) may be aligned under the spacers54 to provide, in effect, legs to support shelf 47 and further shelvessimilar to shelf 47 may be stacked above shelf 47 as seen in FIG. 2together with further spacers 54 and panels 57 and 60. Such shelves,spacers and panels being stacked one on another for a height aspredetermined by the height of the pipes 21 to form each bookcase 62.

FIG. 6 shows clips 61, also of an extruded aluminum, which are twelveinches in length or such other length as may be appropriate and areused, as indicated in FIG. 2, to connect adjacent bookcases 62 by beingreceived in grooves 55. Although not shown, back-to-back bookcases 62may be secured together in a similar manner by clips 61.

FIGS. 7 through 10 illustrate further extruded spacers and shelves whichmay be used for longer book shelves such as typical library shelving.Thus, FIG. 7 shows in cross section a midway spacer 64 which is providedwith a pair of tangential opposite extending legs 65 and a pair ofoppositely extending parallel legs 66 which define grooves 67 that aredimensionally similar to grooves 25. Spacer 64 also is provided with aninterior bore 70 having the same diameter as bore 24 and two additionalparallel legs 71,which are perpendicular to legs 65 and 66, define agroove 72 and have the same width as grooves 67 and 24.

Spacer 64 may be used in conjunction with spacers 54 of the same heightand pipes 21 as shown in FIG. 8 for a shelf 74 having a length of saytwelve feet, a width of one foot and six openings appropriately locatedwhereby the outboard openings 75 receive pipes 21 surrounded by spacers54 and the inboard openings 75 receive pipes 21 surrounded by spacers64. In FIG. 8, the spacers 54 are not shown. It will, nevertheless, beappreciated that back panels of appropriate length may be substitutedfor panels 57 to be received in grooves 25 of spacers 54 and grooves 67of spacers 64. In a manner similar to that previously described, thebookcase is constructed as high as desired by using an appropriateseries of spacers, shelves, back and side panels, the six pipes 21providing alignment of the spacers and shelves, and indirectly, thepanels. Support is provided primarily by the spacers and secondarily bythe shelves and panels with theback panels providing intermediatesupport for the shelves.

In FIG. 9, a cross-section of a further extrusion is shown whichconstitutes a central spacer 76 which has two parallel sets of legs 77extending from opposite sides to define two opposite grooves 80 whichare dimensionally similar to groove 25, and two further opposite sets oflegs 78, at right angles to legs 77, which define between them grooves81 which, again, are dimensionally similar to groove 25. Spacer 76 alsohas a central bore 82 which has the same diameter as bore 24. As shownin FIG. 10, a shelf which may be two feet in width and twelve feet inlength has eight openings 84 which are for receiving pipes 21. Spacers54 are provided at the corners in a manner similar to that shown in FIG.2 and along the sides between spacers 54 a pair of spacers 64 aredisposed as shown. Centrally located to trisect the distance betweenspacers 64 are a pair of central spacers 76. All of the spacers are ofthe same length and side panels (not shown) are received along the widthof the shelf 85 and grooves 25 and 76 in a manner comparable to thatshown in FIG. 2. Similarly, central supporting vertical panels ofappropriate length having the same height as the spacers are receivedbetween the grooves 72 and grooves 81 on each side of the panel and,between the central spacers 76, in the grooves 81. If desired, furtherspacers 64 with further openings 84 may be provided along the length oneach side of shelf 85 opposite central spacers 76. Again, as with theembodiment shown in FIG. 2, the bookcases may be built by alternatingshelves 85 with spacers as shown depending upon the height of the pipes21.

FIGS. 11 and 12 disclose alternate embodiments for the cross-section ofthe spacers. Thus, in FIG. 11, spacer 83 is similar to spacer 22 shownin FIG. 5 except that in legs 27, outboard grooves 87 have been providedand in outboard legs 26, there are further outboard grooves 88. Thefunction of grooves 87 and 88 is to center drills which make holes forreceiving screws, bolts or other fasteners, if desired, whereby legs 26are fastened to panels received in grooves 25 and legs 27 are fastenedto pipes 21 or such other pipes or posts which may be received in bores24.

In FIG. 12, spacer 90 has two bores, one bore 24 having the samediameter as bore 24 in spacer 22 and a further bore 91 which has adiameter one-half of that of bore 24. In addition, gap 31 is closedwhereby the inboard legs 27 are integral and together with a web 92between bores 24 and 91 surround completely bore 24. Further, in amanner similar to that shown in FIG. 11, grooves 94 are provided in legs26 to center drills to make openings for screws or other fasteners andfurther grooves 95 and 96 are provided for receiving and centering drillbits wherein it is desired to drill holes into bores 91 and 24,respectively, to secure pipes 21 or other posts or the like which may bereceived in bores 24.

Except for the provision to receive clips 61, extrusions havingcross-sections, such as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, may be used in lieu ofspacers 22, 32, 42, 52 and 54. With a spacer 90 as shown in FIG. 12,either bore 91 or bore 24 may receive a post for alignment or both mayreceive same. The chief value of spacer 90 is that it tends to eliminateareas in the shelving and in the spacers which may be difficult to dustor otherwise maintain clean such as the gaps 31 and the cornerindentations. In addition, the provision of two posts for bores 24 and91 increases, somewhat, the stability of spacers 90.

Concerning the construction of the drawers 37, 40 and 41 shown in FIG.1, it will be appreciated that the bottom of such drawer may be a singleor appropriately dimensioned shelf such as shelf 47 to which is securedpipes 21 and which has not only front and side panels such as panels 57and 60 shown in FIG. 2 but also a front panel to which handles 44, 45and 46 are installed. The same spacer as shown in FIG. 5 with spacerscorresponding in height to spacers 22 and 32 or slightly less than suchspacers in height, may be used in such drawers. Preferably, the panelsof such drawers are further secured by a screw or other fastening meansthrough legs 26.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are included to illustrate the versatility of theinvention. An extruded spacer, such as extrusion 90, is not difficult tocut at the site of assembly and may, if desired, be cut at a bias.Preferably, of course, a miter box which may be set at various anglesshould be available.

Extrusions may be sold at desired convenient lengths to be used by anindividual who desires to construct his own knock-down furniture. Thus,in FIG. 13, an extrusion such as shown in FIG. 12 is used to construct achair 100. Such chair is provided with a wooden backrest 101, receivedin grooves corresponding to grooves 25 between a pair of spacers 90a.Such spacers 90a have their upper edges at right angles to theirlongitudinal axes and receive a connecting board 102 which has a pair ofopenings for the tops of the pipes 21 that are each threaded to receivecover nuts 104. At its lower edge, spacer 90a is cut at a bias to bearagainst a flat V-seat 105 constructed of two connected boards 106 and107. Board 107 is provided with biased openings through which pipes 21within spacer 90a extend therefrom and further biased-cut spacers 90ereceive pipe 21 between board 107 and an underlying shelf 110. Undershelf 110 are stub spacers 90f, which have been cut to be biased ontheir upper edges and at right angles on their lower edges through whichpipes 21 extend. Pipes 21 are again threaded on their lower ends toreceive further cover nuts 104. Each set of spacers 90a, 90e and 90ftogether with their internal pipe 21 comprise a back support member 111.

Providing support for shelf 110 and seat 105, are a pair of front legs112 and a pair of back legs 114. It will be noted that each back leg 114is comprised of three spacers 90b, 90c and 90d. Spacers 90b have beencut at a bias on both edges so as to fit between seat 105 and an armrest 115. Arm rests 115 receive the upper end of pipes 21 within backlegs 114 in a manner similar to the receipt of pipes 21 by horizontalmember 17 as shown in FIG. 1. The same is true with respect to pipeswithin front legs 112 and such pipes extend through openings in seat 105and shelf 110. Each front leg comprises spacers 90g, 90h and 90i whichhave been connected with arm rests 115, seat 105 and shelf 110 in amanner similar to each back leg 114.

Side panels 116 suitably cut to accommodate the flat-V of seat 105 arereceived in grooves 25 of spacers 90c and 90h and extend therebetweenand also between seat 105 and shelf 110, providing additional supportfor seat 105. Screws received in bores centered by grooves 95 or 96connect pipes within legs 112 and 114 to surrounding spacers 90g, 90hand 90i for the front leg 112 and 90b, 90c and 90d for the back legs114.

The resulting chair of FIGS. 13 and 14 is strong, easily repairable andso constructed that it can be subsequently disassembled or assembledwith easy.

The drawings are substantially proportional. Legs 26 are 0.15 inches inwidth and have an outboard length of 0.83 inches. Legs 27 are 0.8 inchesalong their outer lengths and their thinnest width is 0.15 inches as isthat of web 30. The same is true of the least thickness between grooves25 and bore 24. The actual radius of bore 24 is 0.53 inches and thecross sectional area of spacer 22 is 1.023 square inches. The weight perfoot of extrusion is 1.203 pounds.

Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described,it is to be understood that the inventive concepts are capable of beingincorporated in other adaptations and modifications which will fallwithin the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A spacer for supporting a horizontal platform whichcomprises an upright member having a uniform cross-section throughoutits length, said member defining a groove for receiving a vertical paneland an opening spaced from said groove, said opening adapted to receivea vertical post for connecting a plurality of like spacers withhorizontal platforms having aligned openings receiving said verticalpost, said groove defined by two planar parallel longer sides and ashorter interior end so that as seen in cross-section each side islonger than their distance apart, planes coninciding with said sidesbeing parallel to and spaced outwardly of said opening so that they arespaced outboard of and parallel to planes tangent to said opening, and aplane generally coinciding with said interior end throughout its lengthprojecting through about the centerline of said opening, said memberdefining a further like groove which is adapted to receive a furthervertical panel disposed at right angles to said first mentioned verticalpanel on the other side of said opening, said grooves as seen incross-section each having uniform depths defined by said interior ends,lines connecting said interior ends of said grooves to each other and tothe centerline of said opening forming substantially a right trianglewith the two shorter sides of said right triangle being equal in length,said member having a plane of symmetry which contains said centerline,the outer sides of said member which define in part its peripherycoinciding in part, as seen in cross-section, with the sides of a squareand said plane of symmetry coinciding with the diagonal of said square,said opening being circular as seen in cross-section.
 2. A spacer inaccordance with claim 1, wherein said opening has a gap.
 3. A spacer inaccordance with claim 2, wherein said gap occupies an arc of about 50°centered from said centerline.
 4. A spacer for supporting a horizontalplatform which comprises an upright member having a uniformcross-section throughout its length, said member defining a groove forreceiving a vertical panel and an opening spaced from said groove, saidopening adapted to receive a vertical post for connecting a plurality oflike spacers with horizontal platforms having aligned openings receivingsaid vertical post, said groove defined by two planar parallel longersides and a shorter interior end so that as seen in cross-section eachside is longer than their distance apart, planes coinciding with saidsides being parallel to and spaced outwardly of said opening so thatthey are spaced outboard of and parallel to planes tangent to saidopening, and a plane generally coinciding with said interior endthroughout its length projecting through about the centerline of saidopening, said member defining a further like groove which is adapted toreceive a further vertical panel disposed at right angles to said firstmentioned vertical panel on the other side of said opening, said groovesas seen in cross-section each having uniform depths defined by saidinterior ends, lines connecting said interior ends of said grooves toeach other and to the centerline of said opening forming substantially aright triangle with the two shorter sides of said right triangle beingequal in length, said member having a plane of symmetry which containssaid centerline, the outer sides of said member which define in part itsperiphery coinciding in part, as seen in cross-section, with the sidesof a square and said plane of symmetry coinciding with the diagonal ofsaid square, said member defining a pair of additional grooves forreceiving connecting clips adjacent said first-mentioned groove and saidfurther groove, said additional grooves facing said opening and beinginclined substantially 45° to said plane of symmetry.
 5. A spacer inaccordance with claim 4, wherein said member comprises an extrusion. 6.A spacer in accordance with claim 5, wherein said member is composed ofaluminum.